Emergency responders preparing for bad weather

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Emergency responders are trying to keep operations running smoothly despite the winter weather. For MedFlight, snow and wind can keep crews on the ground, even though the bad weather often results in the most calls.

"We can fly in light snow, but certainly if its heavy snow or heavy rain stuff like that it does prohibit us from flying," said Rodney Logan of MedFlight.

First responders say before a big storm, they always prepare to respond to a lot of car accidents because people just drive way too fast.

"If you think it's going to take you 15 minutes in perfect weather, give yourself a half an hour," said Captain Phil Trent of the South Bend Police Department.

Police and fire crews say there's one thing to remember- response times are delayed.

Not only are there more accidents, but officers have to drive slower than usual.

"They are having to drive through the same bad conditions," said Trent.

"Sometimes we'll be on the scene and we get out of the truck and there's black ice we can fall out of the ground-- we're not any good being injured so we take extra precautions," said Captain Randy Schrubba of the St Joe Public Safety Department Fire Division.

After the storm, when temps drop and roads are iced over, it can be too dangerous for ambulances to speed through traffic, that's when MedFlight takes off.

If visibility allows, they fly in and out at about 150 miles per hour. In icy conditions, they're faster, and safer.